Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys

November, 2009
Regional Report

Shows & Events

Winter Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale
On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, December 4-6, from 10am-4pm, the Fullerton Arboretum will provide hundreds of specimen plants, living succulent wreaths, and decorative dish gardens -- all perfect holiday gifts! 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, 29831, http://www.arboretum.fullerton.edu

Clever Gardening Technique

Homegrown Decorations
Decorate candles with flowers and foliage that you've grown and pressed yourself. Place small flowers, leaves, and vines between paper towels, and weigh down with a heavy book overnight. Pieces should be limp but not moist or crispy. Use a glue stick to tack them into place on candles. Mix and match colors, or use white candles to highlight the colors of the flowers and leaves. In an empty coffee can tall enough to hold the candle, melt six cakes of paraffin by setting it in a pan of boiling water. Dip the candle, with its tacked-on flowers and leaves, into the liquid paraffin, and hold it or set it upright until it's cool. Dip again if a thicker coating is desired.